In 2000 Jef graduated with Master of Music degrees in Jazz and piano, both with great distinction. In 2001 he specialized in Chamber Music and he was rewarded 'cum laude'.

Next to his musical education, Jef started to play in local bands at the age of fourteen. During that period he composed a wide variety of pieces for the most divergent ensembles (from piano solo to symphonic orchestra). From age seventeen to twenty he played with the popular funk band Mr. Zebedee, immediately his first contact with jazz and blues.

As freelance pianist Jef also participated in various jazz bands, classic formations, pop bands, theatre productions, studio sessions, i.e. from Get Ready (the famous Belgian boys band) to solo performances with the Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Michel Tilkin). As jazz musician he worked with Dré Pallemaerts, Paolo Fresu, Lindsey Horner, Peter Hertmans, Ben Sluys, etc.

Jef Neve is not only a pianist, he also composes for his classical piano trio with violin and cello. He arranges for big band and composes for his jazz trio, and finally as a studio technician Jef works in his demo studio to shape his many artistic projects.

“Blue Saga” (Contour 002) , the first album of Jef’s trio was a bestseller in 2003 and was overwhelmed with great critics by the international press. His second album “It’s Gone”, released in November 2004, received unanimous critical acclaim in the international press and is already #1 best selling jazz album in Belgium.

Jef Neve is ‘Artist in residence’ for the cultural centre ‘De Warande’ in Turnhout (B) in 2004-05. He also plays with the Pascal Schumacher/Jef Neve Quartet, with which he recorded the album “Change of the Moon”. The band performed in Luxemburg, Belgium and Germany, as well as tours in Australia, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal. In 2005 a tour of Japan is scheduled for the Jef Neve Trio, as well as performances at international festivals. Parallel to his fast growing activity as jazz artist, Jef is also preparing a classical program for 2006, the Goldberg Variations by JS Bach & some of his own compositions for classical trio.

2003 saw the release of his first album in trio : "Blue Saga" 2004 saw the release of a second album in trio : "It's Gone"

Lots of good reasons are combined by Jef Neve to set him apart on the belgian jazz scene. He is a bright pianist, a good composer and arranger, and his trio with Piet Verbist (b) and Teun Verbruggen has a real group sound, unbelievably efficient in concert. They always manage to establish a priviliged live relationship with the audience, their compositions always allowing the performers to tell a story, whether in the mood and structure, or in the impros. The basis for those happenings is to be find on "It's Gone", the second Jef Neve album. On two numbers, the are joined by some horns, including trumpet ace Bert Joris. Jef Neve was interviewed live during "Jazz" on tuesday, october 26th, before the band's tour and their collaboration with Paolo Fresu on some gigs.

RTBF-Jazz News